Why Do People Insist on Eating Food That Kills Them?

Palm, meet face. The associated press reports:

Blowfish, while extremely poisonous if not prepared properly, is considered a delicacy in Japan and is consumed by thrill-seeking gourmets.

Iwase said the seven men ordered sashimi and grilled blowfish testicles at the restaurant Monday night.

Shortly after, they developed limb paralysis and breathing trouble and started to lose consciousness – typical signs of blowfish poisoning – and were rushed to a hospital for treatment, Iwase said.

A 68-year-old diner remained hospitalized in critical condition with respiratory failure and two others, aged 55 and 69, were in serious condition, he said.

“It’s scary. If you go to a decent-looking restaurant that serves fugu, you would assume a cook has a proper fugu license,” Iwase said, using the Japanese term for blowfish.

Really? Come one people that isn’t thrill seeking. Thrill seeking involves doing something that you know you will survive but gives you the illusion of facing death. Eating poison kills you. That is gambling with your life. And we are the smart species….

9 Replies to “Why Do People Insist on Eating Food That Kills Them?”

  1. If you want a tingle on the lips and tongue I highly recommend calamari with habanero batter. Not poisonous either. Or a nice fish with habanero salsa. Or just the raw habanero, more appetizing sounding than grilled blowfish testicles too.

  2. Kevin,
    You are a bit harsh on this one.

    If you read the whole article, the fugu was prepared by an untrained and UNAUTHORIZED sushi chef. And there are legal ramifications here for those people.
    Plus, frankly, the attitude of these kinds of people is that the risk is worth the buzz. We don’t have a direct parallel in the US but what about drinking soda, which is instrumental in long term type II diabetes? Eating beef? Or smoking? Or having a REALLY good hamburger? Drinking alcohol??
    All ultimately bad for you. If I understand the psychology involved, professionally prepared fugu has an edge of danger..and there is ALWAYS risk with raw fish but one that is worthwhile…

    But if you don’t eat sushi to begin with, then it would be difficult to explain…

  3. Smart? Really? Making our own planet unlivable and using our brain to devise a) useless toys that wreck our environment or b) useful toys whose use serves in killing each other?

  4. Aren’t humans the only animal that knowingly eats something that will kill it? Humans KNOW this stuff is deadly yet tempt death for thrills sake.
    How utterly stupid, yet it sort of figures our species would be the only one who does this.

  5. I’m a little surprised that the heat from the grilling didn’t deactivate the toxin, and I thought that the delicacy was in fugu liver, but then again, I’ve never heard of the term “testicles” being used for fish testes.

    Ah, the wonderful world of fishes… thanks, Kevin.

  6. No, actually its cephalopods for dinner. After the entire family met and talked to Dr. Hanlon and heard his talk about cephalopod camouflage and behavior, we had wonderful dinner at our favorite new Thai restaurant that serves excellent Crispy Calamari and Jumping Squid!

    All very good and wonderful spicy and flavorful Som Tom.

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